hot or not.

I was talking with one of my friends last week; she commented and said, "North America is the most spiritually dead continent in the world." This to me is crazy. In Canada, "Our true North strong and free." Strong with what? Free? Then why are we so hidden and dead with our faith. This is absurd. We live in a country where we are so easily set up to preach God's Word and show love to so many people, yet we stay where we are comfortable. What is that?! It is pretty disgusting.

I say this, and often fall into it myself. I feel I should talk to a person, but do not in fear of rejection or of being ridiculed.

Philippians 1:29 - "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him."

It is easy to be granted to believe in Him... but to be granted to suffer for Him?

Why does that sound so bad to us? Why do we fear this so much? Why do we worry about other people over what God teaches us? Essentially are we could ask ourselves, what do we love more, God's will or the world's opinion?

Matthew 5:10 says, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Why not be persecuted?

To often, - and I am also very guilty of this - we forget how small we are, and how short our time is here one earth.

Someone told me something very significant once and said, "If you have committed your life to Christ, hasn't your eternity already started?" I think that this is very true. We are a "new creation, the old life has gone and the new life has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

We need to be radical.

We need to be on fire.

Revelations 3:15-18 says, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see."

Not being 'hot' for God, yet calling ourselves a Christian is repulsive to God. We are things like wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. How are we not ashamed of this? And if we are ashamed - which we should be, - what are we going to do about it?

DANCE Party with Tessa!

So....

Once upon a time....

Just kidding I'm not going to start my story like that. A couple of nights ago my 2 friends Peter, Katelyn, and I went to Subway to visit our other friend Tessa at Subway where she was working. We hung out for a while when the song 'Hot n' Cold' by Katie Perry came on. Tessa and I got up and started dancing... without any planning at a

ll, Tessa and I started doing the same dance moves.

Tessa, we are awesome.

and because of this wonderful dance party,

we are reenacting it and filming it.... some day.

my fish is alive and well.

yes this may possibly for the most part most probably be a blog war with brittanyvos.blogspot.com

King Lemuel is happy.

King Lemuel is healthy.

King Lemuel is well.

NOT dying

in spirit of how well my fish is doing, I wrote an acrostic poem

K iller happy

I ncredibly healthy

N ever been better

G rrrrrrrreater than Tony the tiger

L oving life

E mily's Fish

M agnificent (over all)

U nlike Nacho is alive.

E mphasizing how amazing this fish is doing over all

L onger life than other fish of his kind.... cough cough... (Nacho)

In the spirit of writing about our fish. I also got a picture of both fish.

King Lemuel

Nacho

sad. but true.

:) love yah Brit.

Double Road Kill.

So... I was driving home from work tonight when I noticed that the car in front of me was a pizza pizza delivery driver who had left his pizza bag and pizza on the back of his car. I looked at the pizza bag and could tell that it was not going to stay on the car's trunk for much longer. I flashed my high beams at him in hopes that he would get annoyed and look through his rearview mirror and notice the pizza sitting there.

However, not going to lie... at the same time as hoping he would see the pizza, I definitely wanted to see that pizza bag fall.

Driving through Waterdown the pizza lasted on the back of the car... we continued out of town, and as we were passing Joe Sam's park, the pizza fell. I quickly pulled over and excitedly picked up the pizza thinking this could be a huge win. I threw the pizza in the truck, however, for my consciences sake I still wanted to try and give the pizza back. I sped up and caught up to the pizza driver, once again flashing my high beams and frantically waving in hopes that he would pull over to see what all the commotion was about.... He didn't. I got home and excitedly told my family the crazy story of getting free pizza off the road. However... still for my conscience sake called the pizza pizza store and was put on hold for 15 min. I decided that it was not worth it and they would not be able to use this pizza again anyways... so why not eat it :)

Kathleen and I did.

Eating Pizza again.

Me with the Pizza Bag

I can honestly say that I wish the story ended here... however... it doesn't it gets crazier. SO... my friend Tessa and I had a skype date at 10:30. And from all the excitement of the pizza and coming home and telling the story etc... I made my self 5 minutes late.

Once again I wish that was the end of the story.. however....its not.

So I started looking for my phone so I could text Tessa and tell her I would be a little bit late. However... I could not find my phone. I looked everywhere... In the truck on the drive way in the kitchen... everywhere I had been since I got home from work. I called it and my mom and sister helped me listen... still nothing. I was trying to think back to when I last saw it... and I remembered.... after work, as I was walking to the truck, I was texting my friend Anna, and simply threw my phone and my visor on my lap when I got in.

UNFORTUNATELY

I forgot I put it there... got consumed in following the pizza guy and when I jumped out to grab the pizza, my phone and visor dropped out.

After realizing this, my mom and I quickly drove out to where I picked up the pizza to look for the phone. I was driving slowly down the road, calling it with my dad's phone as my mom looked. Within the first 3 minutes we found.....

MY VISOR!!!!! woot woot right?! haha

But... no phone.

no phone parts.

nothing.

gone.

Kinda sucked. 2nd phone this summer. however my mom and I made it into a joke... Pizza ended up costing me more than I ever thought it would.

Sweet Kill in getting pizza.

Bad Kill in losing my phone.

Double Kill.

im gonna let it shine.

sometimes I look at my life and there seems to be a hole. I forget about the fire and joy that I once had and rather look at all the negative things that are going on.

like... how I work at Tim Hortons everyday, am asked to be a supervisor, am a

supervisor, and rather than it being a benefit, I get ripped off by babysitting and

not getting paid for it. Or how I never see my family, because we all have opposite

schedules, or how I am feel lonely so often.

however, looking back at these times of depression, loneliness, self pity, and annoyance, I am reminded of what God has done for me. God has given me an awesome opportunity at Tim Hortons. The owners there love me and I get along with them really well. Sure the money is not that great for the amount of work that I do, but I do get 32 hours a week on top of what I am already working for my dad. This summer has been difficult in seeing my family because of our opposite schedules, however the times that we do see each other are special and times that I treasure. And the times that I am alone give me huge opportunities to build on my relationship and engage in the indescribable, incredible, everlasting, infinite love that God has for me.

Contentment. Something the enemy seems to consistently try to take away. The children's song that is so simple but beautiful is this little light of mine.

This little light of mine.

I'm gonna let it shine.

This little light of mine.

I'm gonna let it shine.

Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine.

Don't let satan blow it out...

Hide it under a bushel, No...

But let it shine till Jesus comes...

I'm gonna let it shine.

life in this world is frustrating, unfulfilling, annoying, and painful. However, knowing that following Christ is a choice - a pretty good one at that. Knowing myself that I strive for a better relationship with God and to live for His glory, verses like 1 Corinthians 9:23-25 are a continual encouragement to press on. Paul writes, "I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."

And then Jesus' words in Matthew 16: 24-26 are such a challenge to really choose Him. Not be lukewarm but rather on fire for him, having that little light BURN. "Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?"

Deny himself.

Take up his cross.

Follow Him.

Thats some powerful stuff. Give it all. Everything I know, and am comfortable with, 'deny' to follow Him. But then there is a promise, whoever wants to save his life, will lose it; but whoever loses his life for me, will find it.

If my life that I am living is one of discontentment and loss, why not lose it. Sure, the life I have is predictable, I know what will happen, I am comfortable, however, comfort isn't part of the promise.

"whoever, loses his life for me will find it."

losing it. and finding it.

losing what I know, to find the promised beautiful unknown.

And because of this beautiful unknown, I can say, 'It is well, it is well with my soul.'

As I Marvel

"Here we see that God your moving"

As I was thinking on how to start this post, I heard this line from a song I was listening to.

God is so good.

Overall in this past year, there have been many times that this has been hard to say. Many times when I simply say I know God is good, but where is He.

Struggles continue to come, however,

"Into marvellous light I am running."

Things that I have been praying about,

Places I have messed up.

Mistakes I have made.

Things that have hurt me.

Uncertainties of life.

Are all coming clear.

"My dead heart now is beating,

my deepest stains now clean,

your breathe fills up my lungs,

now I'm free.

Sin has lost its power

Death has lost its steam.

From the grave you've risen,

Now I'm free."

Praise God From whom all blessings flow.

There is nothing more to say except what a marvellous, love, merciful, and gracious God.

-Amen

equally skilled.

The song 'Equally Skilled' by Jon Foreman is such a beautiful crafted song. I love how in the beginning of the song its so depressing as he points out how easy it is for us sinful people to do evil to others and selfishly within our world. However, how masterfully and mightily our merciful God turns that around.

How miserable I am

I feel like a fruit-picker who arrived here

After the harvest

There's nothing here at all

Nothing at all here that could placate my hunger

The godly people are all gone

There's not one honest soul left alive

Here on the planet

We're all murderers and thieves

Setting traps here for even our brothers

And both of our hands are equally skilled

At doing evil, equally skilled

At bribing the judges, equally skilled

At perverting justice

Both of our hands

Both of our hands

The day of justice comes

And is even now swiftly arriving

Don't trust anyone at all

Not your best friend or even your wife

For the son hates the father

The daughter despises even her mother

Look, your enemies arrive

Right in the room of your very household

And both of their hands are equally skilled

At doing evil, equally skilled

At bribing the judges, equally skilled

At perverting justice

Both of their hands

Both of their hands

No, don't gloat over me

Though I fall, though I fall

I will rise again

Though I sit here in darkness

The Lord, the Lord alone

He will be my light

I will be patient as the Lord

Punishes me for the wrongs I've done

Against Him

After that, He'll take my case

Bringing me to light and the justice

For all I have suffered

And both of His hands

Are equally skilled

At ruining evil, equally skilled

At judging the judges, equally skilled

Administering justice

Both of His hands

Both of His hands

Are equally skilled

At showing me mercy, equally skilled

At loving the loveless, equally skilled

Administering justice

Both of His hands

Both of His hands

oh the girl in training....

Tim Hortons is where I work seems like 95% of my life. Not a bad thing, making money for school which is good. One shift in particular stands out in my mind however. A new girl, working her 5th shift, - lets call her Tammy for the stories sake - made this shift memorable for me.

Tim Hortons was Tammy's first job. She was very nervous, but in her opinion, was ready to learn. I, being the supervisor during the shift, thought Tammy looked promising, having great potential to be a good and helpful worker.

MOST people after their first shift of training understand the small sugar button and the small cream button, are for the small cups.... Tammy didn't

MOST people after the first shift understand that

brown pots = regular coffee

orange pots = decaf coffee

red pots = steeped tea

Tammy didn't

MOST people after there first shift are starting to understand which donuts are which, especially the popular ones like chocolate dip, boston cream, chocolate glazed, and honey dip...

once again, Tammy didn't

Thats okay. It was her first shift.

I understand.

This story continues on Tammy's 5th shift. Short training shifts are over. One is now left on their own on a section.

Tammy was left on till 4.

I was on drive thru going CRAZY, the store was so busy, truck was here one guy was helping the truck driver unload, one guy did not show up to work, I was on drive thru and sandwich bar by myself, and Tammy was on till 4.

I was making a sandwich and one of our regular customers comes up to me and says, "Emily, I asked for steeped tea and this for sure is coffee." I took it, looked at it, and could tell and smell that it was coffee.

No problem.

Everyone makes mistakes.

Normally I would just remake it, however, be crazy busy, I went down to Tammy, and asked her to.

She looked at me and was like, "I made that a tea."

"Tammy, this is coffee though."

"I got it out of the steeped tea pot."

"Which pot of steeped tea did you use?"

"This orange one."

Once again, for those of you don't work at Tim Hortons, Orange = decaf..... her 5th shift.

I stood there thinking, okay, mistakes happen, shes fairly new, not a big deal, moving on.

I fixed the tea, ran back to drive thru, met a few angry customers, apologized, worked faster than I ever had before and continued.

When I thought I wasn't busy enough, I looked at the front and saw that there was a line of customers out the door. Tammy was serving a man in a red t-shirt. My head set was beeping again with 3 customers waiting for their orders.

I finished serving all of them. Turned around, still man in the red shirt. Longer line.

Head set: beep.

"Thank you for choosing Tim Hortons, I'll be with you in one moment."

I ran over to Tammy who was standing there doing nothing at the time, just standing there, "Tammy, whats up?"

"Oh nothing just making a coffee and gonna grab a donut for this man."

"Cool, do you have the coffee ready?"

"Yep."

"Did you give the man his coffee?"

"Yep."

"Did you grab his donut?"

"Oh, no, not yet."

Slightly confused, "oh, you gonna get it for him?"

"Oh, yeah, it was a chocolate glazed."

Sweet, in my mind, thinking sweet, nice and easy chocolate glazed, exactly what its called, brown chocolate with shiny glaze.

looks something like this (not Tim Hortons glazed, but pretty much like this)

Tammy, however picks up a Honey dip and says, "This is chocolate glazed right?"

mmm... slightly different. Not chocolatey... white...

I corrected Tammy, "Actually, thats the Honey dip donut, this one here is the chocolate glazed."

Tammy is a sweetheart, customers love her smile and charm, just a little slower on the concepts of Tim Hortons.

Later on in the shift, a customer came up to me and said, "I ordered double doubles, but this only has sugar in it." I looked, and he was right.

I fixed the coffees, apologized and then went down to Tammy to make sure she knew that double double meant 2 sugars and 2 creams.

I went down to her till and asked her, she knew, but then said, "The coffees here do not seem to get lighter from the cream like they do at home."

I'm thinking, 'What?! what do you mean they do not get lighter.'

"Tammy, did you push the cream button?"

"Yes."

"Did you see anything come out?"

"No."

"Tammy, your cream machine is empty."

I dont know how many coffees went out without cream, however, to Tammy, rather than thinking there is no more cream in my machine, or noticing that the cream she was once seeing was no longer there, it was simply the coffee was darker than at her house, and the cream didn't make it lighter.

Tammy, you make me smile.

Looking back at the shift, it was the craziest shift, funniest shift, and most stessful shift I have ever worked in my life.

God's Promises.

My mom gave me this little poem today and it was such an encouragement. Often I find myself saying "I can't" and forget about the promises that God has promised me.

Our Thinking vs. God's Promises

"It's impossible."

"All things are possible" -Luke 18:27

"I'm too tired."

"I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28-30

"Nobody really loves me."

"I love you." - John 3:16; John 13:34

"I can't go on."

"My grace is sufficient for you." - 2 Corinthians 12:9; Psalm 91:15

"I can't figure things out."

"I will direct your paths." - Proverbs 3:5-6

"I can't do it."

"You can do all things." - Philippians 4:13

"I am not able."

"I am able." - 2 Corinthians 9:8

"It's not worth it."

"It will be worth it." - Romans 8:28

"I can't forgive myself."

"I forgive you." - 1 John 1:9; Romans 8:1

"I can't manage."

"I will supply all your needs." - Philippians 4:19

"I'm afraid."

"I have not given you a spirit of fear." - 2 Timothy 1:7

"I am always worried and frustrated."

"Cast all your cares on me." - 1 Peter 5:7

"I don't have enough faith."

"I've given everyone a measure of faith." - Romans 12:3

"I am not smart enough."

"I give you wisdom." - 1 Corinthians 1:30

"I feel all alone."

"I will never leave you or forsake you." - Hebrews 13:5

Rest

I felt like blogging this morning, but really do not have a lot to talk about. My life has been getting into routine. Doing the same things everyday, few changes here and there - some mornings I clean, play guitar, did my nails with Katie yesterday... yah know. Routines are good, helpful, always know what you plan to do and when you plan to do it. Despite how good routines are and how I don't mind mine at all, I am excited for Friday. For Friday is a day of no plans, no work, nothing to do (except get ready for market at sometime). Taking the day as it comes, free reign. Its important to take these days - even Biblical. Rest is something that I think we often forget to take. We are a busy people that need to rest. Thats all I have to say.

Rest, we need it.

Take All of Me

So, I was thinking - and no Brit, its not a first :) - about how often I get caught up in worldly things. Putting things like worries, problems, money, and other issues above God. As I am writing this, I am realizing that God has been laying this problem on my heart a lot lately.

Personal Side Note: I love Journaling for this reason, I find I hear God best when I write things down. Often I do not hear what He is saying when He is saying it, but when I reflect, I see and understand better.

Anyways, Lately a song that has been reminding me to turn to God and has also been speaking very strongly to my heart has been the song, Take All of Me, by the Freshwind Band.

Take All of Me - Freshwind Band

All I want is You,

You've heard the tears I've cried

I'm so sick of all the things,

That keep my from Your side.

I just wanna feel You closer,

Desire of my heart,

The choices I've been making,

are tearing us apart.

So before I come undone,

Take all of me.

Til' theres nothing left but You.

Soaking in Your mercy,

Surrounded by Your grace,

I'm wondering what to give You,

When all I have is me,

So Lord here I come undone,

Take all of me,

Til theres nothing left but You.

The word of this song I think say it all.

Seeking Fulfillment

Today I have been thinking a lot about relationships and how often I look to them for self fulfillment. I consistently find myself doing this. I will have a bad day, argument, or simply just be bored, and all I will be thinking about is how I will be able to find someone to hang out with or even simply talk to on the internet or on my phone.

I do not want to be misunderstood here, I do not think this is wrong, actually I think it is normal.

God created us for each other. For in Genesis 2:18 God said, "It is not good for man {or woman} to be alone." We as humans need to depend on one another.

However, time and time again, I find myself over relying on people.

I will be at work in a frustrating situation and simply just want to go call a family member or text a friend my frustrations. I don't actually want anyone to do anything about the situation, I just need to get it out. Most times I don't want to hear anything or listen to any advice as I would rather just figure it out myself and have the confirmation from them that I am right in my frustrations.

What I was thinking was,

What if every time I was frustrated or angry I completely turned to God. - I know this is not profound or anything - however, what if I in my times of anger or frustration instantly, not my second or third thought, but instantly asked God for advice. What if I was in constant prayer. Gave up my pride of not wanting to listen to any advice, and instead was constantly seeking God's advice. What if this self fulfillment that we consistently seek in each other we sought out in God.

What beautiful love and relation that would be.

What desire and attraction would evolve.

What if we truly lived the greatest commandment?

'And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the greatest commandment."

To often I think we forget about the love God has for us. The relationship that He does desires, but we often forget.

Sisters Are Forever...

A little saying our mom always says,

'Sisters are Forever'

She told us that when we were young,

every time we would get into a fight or quarrel about something,

she would remind us, 'sisters are forever',

many times I remember thinking, 'well I wish they weren't'

such an awful thing to think now looking back.

HOWEVER,

in a time we slowly found an appreciation for each other.

I see different gifts that they both have

talents and abilities that I never noticed before

I see a beauty in both of their own faith and love for both God and people

and I appreciate spending time with them both together and individually.

Brittany is amazing at loving and caring for ALL people.

She has an amazing gift for writing and uses it consistently to what I would call God honoring literature.

Kathleen - has a beautiful name - and has such a talent in music and has such joy in her heart.

Kathleen gives of herself in so many ways to so many people.

Kathleen loves to serve, and serves to the best of her ability.

Both Kathleen and Brittany put 100% of themselves into all they do

I love them.

Sisters are Forever.

Something I did not treasure when I was young,

however, now I can not express how truly thankful I am.

Moving Your Feet Can Be Hard.

so I have been working on this (what I think is absolutely ridiculous) distance education course. consistently I get frustrated with the work as it is not hard at all and because it is so easy gets to be to the point of confusing because of the simplicity of what you have to do. Despite these frustrations that have continued to come up, one thing that continues to encourage me are the little one line quotes at the beginning of each chapter.

Like today's, Chapter 10,
"Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you are not willing to move your feet."
- Unknown Author.

I like this quote because often I think we ask God to move in our lives and expect Him to come in like a large unmistakable hurricane without doing anything ourselves. Rather than being willing to go out and serve him so he will be glorified in all we do. I think often we are afraid of what the world will do or say about us. Afraid of being mocked, made fun of, persecuted - needless to say, as Jesus was - for what is right, and what we are called to do.
"Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Love Them Like Jesus

I have found it very difficult to always know my place for saying things.

I work at Tim Hortons in the town that is close to our house. I have only been working there a couple of weeks. I am liked by both managers and do not mind the work at all, however, what bothers me is the way people treat each other in that work environment.

PREVIOUS to working to this Tim Hortons I worked at another Tim Hortons for 2 years where I was harrashed by the managers and a few co-workers because of my faith

Anyways, there is this man Ahmed who I work with. Ahmed is this nice man who works hard to make money for himself and his family. He and his family are all refugees from Pakistan; fleeing from a place where their lives were constantly at risk. Before moving to Canada, Ahmed was a math professor, however, now that he is in Canada, can no longer use his gifts and works at Tim Hortons.

People at Tim Hortons however, do not always give him the same respect that they give the other workers. I have heard people say things like, 'what an idiot', or 'he so stinkin' slow I could do it three times as fast as him'

These comments make me so angry, it makes me want to say, 'oh yeah?! why don't you stop making fun of him and get off your lazy butt and do it for him then?'

It frustrates me so much. He is a person and deserves to be treated like any other person. God created and loves him just as much as he loves anyone else. What makes it difficult however, is that I can repremand the other workers and tell them how what they are saying is wrong, but its when the people who have more senority at the Tim Hortons start saying it, what then? Do I risk my job by saying telling them they are wrong for treating him differently than everyone else? I believe thats what Jesus would have done and its what I want to do. However, I need the job in order to make money for school so have been praying for Ahmed and have been purposly going out of my way to love him. I don't completely know if this is the way God wants me to live in this situation, however, until I know differently, thats how I going about it.

When I think about what Jesus would have said about this situation, I think about what he said in Matthew 25:40 "Whatever you do for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine you do for me." So, showing love to Ahmed is loving Jesus. The situation with Ahmed reminds me of other times where I have found myself in a place making preasumtions about people on the street or even people who come into the church. I make preassumptions or judgements and don't take the time to talk to them or understand why they are there. It also makes me think of the lyrics to the Casting Crowns song If We Are the Body which says,

If we are the body,

why aren't his arms reaching,

why aren't his hands healing?

why aren't his words teaching?

And if we are the body,

why aren't his feet going?

why is his love not showing?

It is just a reminder to me once again to love people, all people, not just the people that are easy to love or understand, but also the outcasts, nerds, weirdos.... like Jesus.

Inspiration.

So... I have to admit, this blog was definitely inspired by my younger sister Brit, (who may have even blogged about this inspiration, not sure -have not checked yet) who writes 'My Dumb Blog' at http://www.brittanyvos.blogspot.com. I read her blog all the time and love her beautifully crafted writing. I myself, am not nearly as talented as her, however, was inspired and am here writing in my own style and perspective and am excited to write and have you both read and comment on my writings.